How can I stop this breakthrough bleeding?

[KitKat1985]

Hi all.

I started the mini pill (cerelle) about a year ago (the one which you take everyday without a break) as had recently had DD2 and was breastfeeding, so had to switch from my usual pill. I got on brilliantly with it for most of the year (no breakthrough bleeding or other side effects). However about 2 months ago I caught a bad tummy bug from DD1. (I'm not sure if this is relevant or not, but I almost certainly threw up the pill that I took that day). A few days after this I started having some very light breakthrough bleeding (pinky coloured, only really when I wiped). This continued for quite a few weeks but the past 2-3 weeks the bleeding has gotten steadily heavier so it's like I've been on a light period for the past few weeks and getting through a few sanitary pads a day. I've been feeling really wiped out the past couple of weeks and I suspect this may be related to the constant bleeding possibly making me anaemic or something. How can I stop this breakthrough bleeding? It's so frustrating because up until this past couple of months I was getting on with this pill really well and feeling much better in myself for not having periods anymore.

I'd probably see your GP to be honest, seems odd to me to suddenly be getting breakthrough bleeding. I miss pills all the time abs don't end up with any bleeding so I'd be surprised if that was the cause.

I bled for 5 months solid on Cerelle, I tried all sorts to make it stop including a course of norithisterone but the bleeding came back worse when I stopped it.

Definitely see your GP and see what they can do. That might work for you but I gave up and switched to something else.

See your GP but when I was on the mini pill I got on fine with it for about 8 months and then started having heavy irregular periods every month or two. I’d also get spotting which i’d never had before. The mini pills are progesterone only if I’m correct? Progesterone imbalances can cause weird periods sometimes

Thank you for your replies. Yeah I think I might have to see my GP to be honest. I wasn't too bothered at first as I was aware that breakthrough bleeding can happen on the mini pill, but I hadn't anticipated it would be going on for this long with no sign of stopping. I might ask to go back on Microgynon (the combined pill) since I'm no longer breastfeeding.